Police extend nighttime sales restrictions in Harju, Ida-Viru counties

A bar.
A bar. Source: Anna Aurelia Minev/ERR

Restrictions on the sale of alcohol at night have been extended in Harju and Ida-Viru counties by the Police and Border Guard Board on Friday. Restrictions will be lifted in Tartu, Võru, Põlva and Valga counties.

Harju County

The restrictions will be in place between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to stop the spread of coronavirus in bars, clubs and restaurants.  

The Health Board's data shows Tallinn is the area with the highest risk in Estonia in terms of population and population density. As of today, 92 people are infected with the virus in Harju County, 79 of them in Tallinn. The proportion of cases in the capital has doubled per 100,000 inhabitants in just a week.

"As the weather is cool and people are often indoors, drinking alcohol creates the possibility that the safe distance and hygiene are forgotten and the morbidity can rise sharply. Therefore, I also support the continuation of the restriction on the sale of alcohol at night, "said Kristian Jaani, Prefect of the North.

The Police and Border Guard Board has sent the corresponding order electronically to all entertainment and catering establishments in Ida-Viru and Harju counties. The necessity to extend the restriction will be reassessed together with the Health Board in a week.

Ida-Viru County

Eastern prefect Tarvo Kruup said the Police and Border Guard Board work on the advice from the weekly overview and recommendations of the Health Board. 

"Although we have seen a relatively small increase in coronavirus infections in Ida-Viru County in recent days, the total number of both sick and monitored people in the county has been very high in recent weeks. Before the introduction of the restriction the infection rate of Ida-Viru County was 26 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, yesterday this number was 66," he said.

"The purpose of the restriction on the sale of alcohol is to prevent the spread of the virus. By extending it, we thus promote the continued maintenance of social distance and avoid the accumulation of large groups in small spaces. With this, we reduce the physical contact between people in order to protect our residents from this disease."

Tartu County and south Estonia

Southern Prefect Vallo Koppel said that as the epidemiological situation in Tartu County has normalized, the restriction on alcohol sales in Tartu County will end on the morning of Monday, September 7. 

"The development of the future situation depends on all the people, but also on the entrepreneurs, who have a responsible role in following the applicable restrictions and creating a safe environment for visitors," the prefect explained.

Restrictions will also be lifted in Võru, Põlva and Valga counties on Monday.

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Editor: Helen Wright

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